New York Soil Health Program<\/a> in the School of Integrative Plant Science in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) so that the statewide translational research program can expand their outreach and demonstrations to farmers on various aspects of improving soil health to promote climate-smart agriculture.\u00a0<\/p>\n\u201cWe are grateful that Attorney General James recognizes the strength of our research and extension programs for\u00a0improving soil health, combating the impacts of climate change, and increasing agricultural profits,\u201d said Benjamin Z. Houlton, the Ronald P. Lynch Dean of CALS. \u201cThis funding will enlist Cornell\u2019s expertise to lower farmer input costs, improve soil organic matter quality and empower the soil\u2019s natural biology for long-term sustainability.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Attorney General James\u2019 support the new Climate Smart Agricultural Fund recognizes Cornell\u2019s 150-year partnership with New York state \u2013 and its status as the state\u2019s land-grand institution, said Julie Suarez,\u00a0associate dean for land-grant affairs in CALS.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe attorney general\u2019s support of the CALS program is an opportunity to support farm families, meet food access needs with healthy foods produced on healthy soils, protect our natural resources and fight climate change,\u201d Suarez said.<\/p>\n
Improving soil health is a key component of climate-smart agriculture, a strategy for adapting to and mitigating climate change. The approach includes practices such as reducing tillage to maintain soil structure, cover cropping, planting perennial crops, and building soils with organic amendments such as manure and compost. These practices have been shown to help farmers build healthier soils, limit erosion, improve resiliency to droughts and heavy rains, and sequester more carbon in soils.<\/p>\n
The attorney general\u2019s funding will enable staff at the New York Soil Health Program to develop new ideas and expand existing ways to educate farmers and agriculture professionals on climate-smart agriculture. Staff plan to expand travel around the state in rural and urban communities with the program\u2019s soil health trailer for more farm extension meetings and demonstrations.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re trying to think creatively about how we can use our trailer as a mobile classroom,\u201d said Joseph Amsili, director of the New York Soil Health Program. The trailer can provide demonstrations about differences between healthy and unhealthy soils, for example.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u201cWith the trailer, we have demonstrations that visibly show farmers the differences in how a heavy rain event might impact poor soil versus soil that has a cover crop on it,\u201d Suarez said. \u201cYou can see the difference in soil erosion and improved resiliency.\u201d<\/p>\n
The program will also use funds to invest in equipment and techniques for measuring soil carbon and soil health, while also providing more soil health testing opportunities for growers across the state. Soil health tests help farmers assess the physical, biological, and chemical parameters of their soil based on established benchmarks.<\/p>\n
Amsili and program leaders have plans to lead workshops that allow farmers to share their own farm management success stories; teach how soil health practices might differ based on agricultural systems, such in orchards, pastures, grain fields and vineyards; conduct on-farm research on how cover cropping, mulching, and biochar applications might be optimized based on the system where they are applied and then offer on-site demonstrations and field days. \u201cWe want to make sure we\u2019re covering the basis and full breadth of New York agriculture,\u201d Amsili said.<\/p>\n
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